Abstract
Conclusion: The multimodal diagnostic algorithm is a simple diagnostic tool in the pre-operative assessment of submandibular masses that enables one-stage surgical concepts.
Background: The pre-operative assessment of submandibular masses is of major clinical impact. This study assesses the diagnostic utility of a newly introduced diagnostic algorithm in the differentiation of submandibular masses based on epidemiological and B-mode ultrasonographic data.
Methods: One hundred and eighty-eight patients with submandibular triangle masses were included. Epidemiological and ultrasonographic data of 128 consecutively included patients were assessed and structured in a multimodal algorithm. The diagnostic algorithm was prospectively validated in a further 60 patients.
Results: Single epidemiological and ultrasonographic data do not reliably predict the lesional entity. The multimodal diagnostic algorithm achieved a diagnostic sensitivity/specificity of 100%/100% in sialolithiasis, 44%/100% in benign submandibular gland diseases (BSD), 94%/96% in nodal lymphoma/unspecific lymphadenitis, and 91%/84% in carcinomas. Reduced sensitivity in BSD or specificity in carcinomas increased after intra-operative fresh frozen section in patients suspected for BSD.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.